Civil Engineer Salary in Houston, TX
Civil Engineers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $100,950 a year — 0% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $79,848 take-home, or $6,654 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median civil engineer salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,379
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,259
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,464
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$79,848
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Civil Engineer pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $67,250 | $32.33 | $56,140 | $4,678 |
| 25th percentile | $80,010 | $38.47 | $65,117 | $5,426 |
| Median (50th) | $100,950 | $48.53 | $79,848 | $6,654 |
| 75th percentile | $130,990 | $62.98 | $100,798 | $8,400 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $168,240 | $80.88 | $126,258 | $10,522 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $100,950 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median civil engineer's $79,848 take-home pay has the buying power of $80,958 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Houston, TX has 1.6× the national concentration of civil engineer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for civil engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #5 of 33 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacramento, CA | $130,150 | $90,657 | $84,988 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $130,280 | $90,732 | $82,168 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $116,480 | $90,774 | $81,680 |
| 4 | Austin, TX | $100,470 | $79,511 | $81,079 |
| 5 | Houston, TX | $100,950 | $79,848 | $80,958 |
| 6 | Pittsburgh, PA | $100,680 | $76,568 | $80,877 |
| 7 | Kansas City, MO | $98,860 | $74,669 | $80,686 |
| 8 | Columbus, OH | $99,010 | $76,543 | $80,176 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 33 metros →
About the job: civil engineers
Perform engineering duties in planning, designing, and overseeing construction and maintenance of building structures and facilities, such as roads, railroads, airports, bridges, harbors, channels, dams, irrigation projects, pipelines, power plants, and water and sewage systems.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +6.4% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Civil Engineer salaries elsewhere in Texas
- Austin, TX — $100,470
- Dallas, TX — $96,920
Frequently asked questions
How much does a civil engineer make in Houston, TX?
The median civil engineer salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $100,950 a year, or about $48.53 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $80,010 and $130,990.
What is a civil engineer’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $100,950 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $79,848 a year ($6,654 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a civil engineer?
Pay here is 0% above the national median of $100,840. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $80,958 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #5 of 33 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a civil engineer afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 20% of a median civil engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Houston, TX
- Petroleum Engineer — $169,870
- Electrical Engineer — $131,070
- Engineers, All Other — $130,270
- Mechanical Engineer — $125,350
- Industrial Engineer — $111,690
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $97,590
- Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other — $76,120
- Architectural and Civil Drafter — $63,120
- Surveying and Mapping Technician — $49,570